LONDON (Reuters) - Fresh speculation surrounded Renault's Formula One team on Thursday with media reports suggesting the manufacturer was considering selling to British-based Prodrive.

A spokesman for Prodrive, who are based near Renault's Enstone factory in central England, would not confirm or deny the rumours.

"We cannot comment on the Renault situation, but it is well known that our intention is to get into F1," he said.

"We proved our credentials earlier this year when we had a strong business case for an entry, but having had an engine deal with Mercedes-Benz in place we were not willing to sacrifice our competitiveness."

The French newspaper L'Equipe reported earlier that Renault were considering a deal with Prodrive but planned to continue as an engine supplier to the team and Red Bull.

A Renault F1 spokeswoman was not immediately available for comment. The autosport.com website said Renault's executive committee had met in Paris on Thursday ahead of a main board meeting next week.

Prodrive are run by David Richards, the former Benetton and BAR team boss who is also chairman of Kuwaiti-owned sportscar maker Aston Martin.

The company secured a slot to enter Formula One in 2008 but withdrew due to uncertainty over the sport's future regulations. They applied again this year to be one of three new teams but were passed over for Cosworth-powered entries.

Renault said last month that they would decide their Formula One future by the end of the year.

The team were handed a suspended permanent ban in September for their involvement in a race-fixing controversy which resulted in ex-principal Flavio Briatore being barred for life. Briatore is appealing that ban, with a verdict due in January.

Renault have said they want to stay in Formula One but the high cost of competing, relative lack of success since they were champions in 2005 and 2006, and negative publicity could persuade them to change their mind.

Honda, Toyota and BMW have all left in the last 12 months, leaving just Ferrari and Mercedes as the only other manufacturers still committed.

(Editing by Alison Wildey)